Encouragement

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THE CALL

A number of years ago, when my body responded more readily when asked and I had more energy than time, I felt THE CALL. I was 19 years old; THE CALL of which I speak of was not a written invitation but a stirring within my heart that led to the most wonderful spiritual transformation. I have often wondered why this happened to one such as I. I was certainly not remarkable in any way that I could see. I was the most likely person not to be seen in a crowd, the last one to be picked on the team, yet for some unexplained reason God reached out to me and gave me THE CALL. It truly was much like THE CALL all of Christ’s original disciples received I am sure. One day they our fishing, the next day Jesus extends an invitation, or THE CALL, and the next moment they find themselves packing a grip with the bare essentials and leaving all that they have known all there life and following this Man who is called the Christ. This is just not an adjustment to one’s lifestyle but this is a complete renovation. I think of how the scriptures state it. “Old things have passed away, and all things become new”. Those that stood by and watched this event no doubt were completely dumbfounded. I guess to try to explain the transformation that comes by responding to THE CALL you might look at the example of the caterpillar. Here the caterpillar grows up from a larvae and spends his days crawling on the ground and the leaves of plants trying to survive. He is constantly limited in his ability to avoid his enemies the birds and such. It’s not like he can run away or quickly hide. He is basically and easy lunch for anything that passes by. Just when he thinks life has nothing more to offer and he has no real purpose in life, he feels THE CALL to build a cocoon in which to hide. He sews it up tight so none can find him, he does not understand why he would do such a thing but does it anyway. It’s in the cocoon that he feels the change. He feels it’s time to be out in the world again and to leave his little utopia of privacy. It involves struggle as he gradually tears apart the prison he had built for himself. He wants to live again, he wants to experience life with a purpose driven to please others. This is a completely different attitude than he had when he went into the incubator of transformation. This struggle helps him grow strong, for when he emerges from the dungeon of what has been and faces the light of what can be he will need that strength to spread his new wings.
What would be the caterpillar’s first thoughts when he looks in the mirror after stepping out of his cocoon? He sees brilliantly colored wings where before was a tubular body covered with the most deplorable fuzz. I dare say he is not disappointed in the least. If anything the thrill of a new life consumes his thoughts as he explores the possibilities that now lie ahead of him. I don’t know if butterflies can talk, but what would you hear them say in excitement as they fly amidst the flowers that they once had to crawl on. There sounds no doubt would be like the sounds of children at an amusement park for the first time. Running from ride to ride pulling their parents behind them and demanding more tickets and more time before the lights were shut off and the gates locked. The caterpillar now had a defense against those that wished to hurt him. He could fly above the reach of his enemies; he could fly as high as he wished to. He was no longer confined to a small plot of ground but the world became a part of his vision. The caterpillar soars on summer currents of air, darting from plant to plant with the ease not unlike the honey bee. No one recognized the little caterpillar with his glorious wings, but the caterpillar new where he came from; this wonderful change came when he answered THE CALL and experienced the transformation that comes when one responds to that heavenly invitation of freedom from mediocrity.
Peter must have felt the same way as he walked down those dusty roads and saw the world through the eyes of God in flesh. Even Christ’s first miracle at Cana must have set him back. The problem of the empty wine jugs. A restless wedding reception, an embarrassing moment for the host as people began to inquire as to where were the refreshments were that our customary at such a events. This is certainly not a crisis with eternal consequences. However if it was important to the host to please his guests Jesus would avail himself to help meet this man’s need and become a wine maker. Peter watched as the servants filled the large jugs with water and wondered how this would ever solve the problem of the host. He saw Christ give the command to the servants to serve the guests and the look of astonishment as people one after another were amazed that the host had saved the best wine till the last. I have often times wondered of all the miracles that Jesus performed how this particular one fits in. Maybe Jesus wanted to point out, that for humans Christ saves the best for last. Maybe when my old life passes away and my new life begins that is when I truly know the beauty of living. Maybe that is what he was trying to get Nicodemus to see as he visited late one night. Jesus extended the invitation to Nicodemus, “Nicodemus you must be born again, not only of water but of Spirit”. Nicodemus scratched his head and looked puzzled as he asked the meaning of this THE CALL. How does Jesus describe this experience, it would be like describing flight to a caterpillar. Something’s you have to experience to understand. That new birth is described as “joy unspeakable and full of glory”. Say wait a minute was that an invitation you just received, have you or will you respond to THE CALL when it comes? Or will you be content to crawl through the flowers of life when God really wants you to fly. Oh by the way did I mention one thing that the caterpillar realized later, he realized that there would come a time in his life where he would need to migrate to escape the harsh winter which would no doubt have taken his life if he had remained a caterpillar. Without those wings he had no hope for the future, so I guess answering THE CALL was more than just a great way to live, it was a lifesaver.

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